Preparation and use of ortho-sulfonamido heteroaryl hydroxamic acids as matrix metalloproteinase and tace inhibitors

Abstract

The present invention relates to the discovery of novel, low molecular weight, non-peptide inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (e.g. gelatinases, stromelysins and collagenases) and TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE, tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme) which are useful for the treatment of diseases in which these enzymes are implicated such as arhritis, tumor growth and metastasis, angiogenesis, tissue ulceration, abnormal wound healing, periodontal disease, bone disease, proteinuria, aneurysmal aortic disease, degenerative cartilage loss following traumatic joint injury, demyelinating diseases of the nervous system, graft rejection, cachexia, anorexia, inflammation, fever, insulin resistance, septic shock, congestive heart failure, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, inflammatory bowel disease, HIV infection, age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, ocular inflammation, keratoconus, Sjogren's syndrome, myopia, ocular tumors, ocular angiogenesis/neovascularization. The TACE and MMP inhibiting ortho-sulfonamido aryl hydroxamic acids of the present invention are represented by the formula where the hydroxamic acid moiety and the sulfonamido moiety are bonded to adjacent carbons on group A where A is defined as: a 5-6 membered heteroaryl having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S and optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 and R 3 ; and Z, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 are described in the specification, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and the optical isomers and diastereomers thereof.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A compound having the formula:                    
       where the hydroxamic acid moiety and the sulfonamido moiety are bonded to adjacent carbons of group A where: 
       A is a selected from the (group consisting of pyrrole, furan, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, triazole, imidazole, isothioazole, thiazole, isoxazole, and oxazole optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       Z is heteroaryl, or heteroaryl fused to another heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl a 5-6 membered heteroaryl group having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S and may be optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently defined as —H, —COR 5 , —F, —Br, —Cl, —I, —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —CN, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 6 )R 5 , —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , 3-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl having one to thre heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S, optionally having 1 or 2 double bonds and optionally substituted by one to three groups each selected independently from R 5 , -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not H, -tetrazol-5-yl, —SO 2 NHCN, —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl optionally having 1 or 2 double bonds, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —COR 5 , —CN, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6  cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl, wherein aryl is phenyl, naphthyl or phenyl fused to a heteroaryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not hydrogen, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 6 )R 5 , -tetrazol-5-yl, —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or —SO 2 NHCN;  
       R 5  and R 6  are independently H, aryl and heteroaryl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, or straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —OH, —COR 8 , —CN, —C(O)NR 8 OR 9 , —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, —OR 8 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 8  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 8 )OR 9 , —PO(OR 8 )R 9 , —OC(O)NR 8 R 9 , —COOR 8 , —CONR 8 R 9 , —SO 3 H, —NR 8 R 9 , —NCOR 8 R 9 , —NR 8 COOR 9 , —SO 2 NR 8 R 9 , —NO 2 , —N(R 8 )SO 2 R 9 , —NR 8 CONR 8 R 9 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalky, as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 8  or —CONHSO 2 R 8  where R 8  is not hydrogen, -tetrazol-5-yl, —NR 8 C(═NR 9 )NR 8 R 9 , —SO 2 NHCONR 8 R 9 , —SO 2 NHCN;  
       R 7  is hydrogen, straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —OH, —COR 5 , —CN, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 5 )R 6 , —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not hydrogen, -tetrazol-5-yl, —NR 5 C(═NR6)NR 5 R 6 , —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or —SO 2 NHCN;  
       or R 7  is phenyl or naphthyl, optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  or a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl group having 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected independently from N, O, and S and optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       or R 7  is C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl or 3-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl as defined above;  
       R 8  and R 9  are independently H, aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl or cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, each optionally substituted with hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, —C 1 -C 4 -pcrfluoroalkyl, amino, mono- and di—C 1 -C 6 -alkylamino, carboxylic acid, carboalkoxy and carboaryloxy, nitro, cyano, carboxarnido primary, mono- and di—C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbamoyl;  
       a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereoaiwhere one may be formed; and an optical isomer or diasterCo ner thereof where optical isomers and diastereomers exist. 
     
     
       2. A compound according to claim  1  wherein both of the carbons of A adjacent to the carbon bearing the sulfonamido group have a substituent other than hydrogen. 
     
     
       3. A compound having the formula:                    
       where the hydroxamic acid moiety and the sulfonamido moiety are bonded to adjacent carbons of group A where: 
       A is a selected from the group consisting of pyridine, pyrimidine, pyridazine and pyrazine optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       Z is heteroaryl, or heteroaryl fused to another heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl a 5-6 membered heteroaryl group having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S and may be optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently defined as —H, —COR 5 , —F, —Br, —Cl, —I, —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —CN, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 6 )R 5 , —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , 3-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl having one to three heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S, optionally having 1 or 2 double bonds and optionally substituted by one to three groups each selected independeny irom R 5 , -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not H, -tetrazol-5-yl, —SO 2 NHCN, —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl optionally having 1 or 2 double bonds, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —COR 5 , —CN, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6  cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl, wherein aryl is phenyl, naphthyl or phenyl fused to a heteroaryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not hydrogen, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 6 )R 5 , -tetrazol-5-yl, —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or —SO 2 NHCN;  
       R 5  and R 6  are independently H, aryl and heteroaryl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, or straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —OH, —COR 8 , —CN, —C(O)NR 8 OR 9 , —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, —OR 8 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 8  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 8 )OR 9 , —PO(OR 8 )R 9 , —OC(O)NR 8 R 9 , —COOR 8 , —CONR 8 R 9 , —SO 3 H, —NR 8 R 9 , —NCOR 8 R 9 , —NR 8 COOR 9 , —SO 2 NR 8 R 9 , —NO 2 , —N(R 8 )SO 2 R 9 , —NR 8 CONR 8 R 9 , —C 3 —C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 8  or —CONHSO 2 R 8  where R 8  is not hydrogen, -tetrazol-5-yl, —NR 8 C(═NR 9 )NRSR 9 , —SO 2 NHCONR 8 R 9 , —SO 2 NHCN;  
       R 7  is hydrogen, straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —OH, —COR 5 , —CN, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 5 )R 6 , —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not hydrogen, -tetrazol-5-yl, —NR 5 C(═NR6)NR 5 R 6 , —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or —SO 2 NHCN;  
       or R 7  is phenyl or naphthyl, optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  or a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl groLup having 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected independently from N, O, and S and optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       or R 7  is C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl or 3-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl as defined above;  
       R 8  and R 9  are independently H, aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl or cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, each optionally substituted with hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, amino, mono- and di—C 1 -C 6 -alkylamino, carboxylic acid, carboalkoxy and carboaryloxy, nitro, cyano, carboxanido primary, mono- and di—C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbamoyl;  
       a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof where one may be formed; 
       and an optical isomer or diastereorner thereof where optical isomers and diastereomers exist. 
     
     
       4. A compound having the formula:                    
       where the hydroxamic acid moiety and the sulfonamido moiety are bonded to adjacent carbons of group A where: 
       A is a selected from the group consisting of pyrrole, triazole and imidazole optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       Z is heteroaryl, or heteroaryl fused to another heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl a 5-6 membered heteroaryl group having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S and may be optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently defined as —H, —COR 5 , —F, —Br, —Cl, —I, —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —CN, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 6 )R 5 , —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , 3-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl having one to three heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S, optionally having 1 or 2 double bonds and optionally substituted by one to three groups each selected independently from R 5 , -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5 or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not H, -tetrazol-5-yl, —SO 2 NHCN, —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl optionally having 1 or 2 double bonds, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —COR 5 , —CN, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6  cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl, wherein aryl is phenyl, naphthyl or phenyl fused to a heteroaryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not hydrogen, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 6 )R 5 , -tetrazol-5-yl, —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or —SO 2 NHCN;  
       R 5  and R 6  are independently H, aryl and heteroaryl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 —C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, or straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —OH, —COR 8 , —CN, —C(O)NR 8 OR 9 , —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, —OR 8 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 8  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 8 )OR 9 , —PO(OR 8 )R 9 , —OC(O)NR 8 R 9 , —COOR 8 , —CONR 8 R 9 , —SO 3 H, —NR 8 R 9 , —NCOR 8 R 9 , —NR 8 COOR 9 , —SO 2 NR 8 R 9 , —NO 2 , —N(R 8 )SO 2 R 9 , —NR 8 CONR 8 R 9 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 8  or —CONHSO 2 R 8  where R 8  is not hydrogen, -tetrazol-5-yl, —NR 8 C(═NR 9 )NR 8 R 9 , —SO 2 NHCONR 8 R 9 , —SO 2 NHCN;  
       R 7  is hydrogen, straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —OH, —COR 5 , —CN, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 5 )R 6 , —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not hydrogen, -tetrazol-5-yl, —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or —SO 2 NHCN;  
       or R 7  is phenyl or naphthyl, optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  or a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl group having 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected independently from N, O, and S and optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       or R 7  is C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl or 3-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl as defined above;  
       R 8  and R 9  are independently H, aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl or cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, each optionally substituted with hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, —C 1 -C 4 -perfloroalkyl, amino, mono- and di—C 1 -C 6 -alkylamino, carboxylic acid, carboalkoxy and carboaryloxy, nitro, cyano, carboxamido primary, mono- and di—C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbamoyl;  
       a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof where one may be formed; 
       and an optical isomer or diastercomer thereof where optical isomers and diastereomers exist. 
     
     
       5. A compound having the formula:                    
       where the hydroxamic acid moiety and the sulfonamido moiety are bonded to adjacent carbons of group A where: 
       A is a selected from the group consisting of fluran, isothioazole, thiazole, isoxazole, and oxazole optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       Z is heteroaryl, or heteroaryl fused to another heteroaryl, wherein heteroaryl a 5-6 membered heteroaryl group having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S and may be optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently defined as —H, —COR 5 , —F, —Br, —Cl, —I, —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —CN, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 6 )R 5 , —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , 3-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl having one to three heteroatoms independently selected from N, O, and S, optionally having 1 or 2 double bonds and optionally substituted by one to three groups each selected independently from R 5 , -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not H, -tetrazol-5-yl, —SO 2 NHCN, —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl optionally having 1 or 2 double bonds, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —COR 5 , —CN, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6  cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl, wherein aryl is phenyl, naphthyl or phenyl fused to a heteroaryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not hydrogen, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 6 )R 5 , -tetrazol-5-yl, —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —NR 5 C(═NR 6 )NR 5 R 6 , —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or —SO 2 NHCN;  
       R 5  and R 6  are independently H, aryl and heteroaryl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, or straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —OH, —COR 8 , —CN, —C(O)NR 8 OR 9 , —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, —OR 8 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 8  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 8 )OR 9 , —PO(OR 8 )R 9 , —OC(O)NR 8 R 9 , —COOR 8 , —CONR 8 R 9 , —SO 3 H, —NR 8 R 9 , —NCOR 8 R 9 , —NR 8 COOR 9 , —SO 2 NR 8 R 9 , —NO 2 , —N(R 8 )SO 2 R 9 , —NR 8 CONR 8 R 9 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 8  or —CONHSO 2 R 8  where R 8  is not hydrogen, -tetrazol-5-yl, —NR 8 C(═NR 9 )NR 8 R 9 , —SO 2 NHCONR 8 R 9 , —SO 2 NHCN;  
       R 7  is hydrogen, straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl each optionally substituted with —OH, —COR 5 , —CN, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, —OR 5 , —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, —S(O) x R 5  where x is 0-2, —OPO(OR 5 )OR 6 , —PO(OR 5 )R 6 , —OC(O)NR 5 R 6 , —COOR 5 , —CONR 5 R 6 , —SO 3 H, —NR 5 R 6 , —NR 5 COR 6 , —NR 5 COOR 6 , —SO 2 NR 5 R 6 , —NO 2 , —N(R 5 )SO 2 R 6 , —NR 5 CONR 5 R 6 , —C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl as defined above, —C 3 -C 6 -cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, -aryl or heteroaryl as deflined above, —SO 2 NHCOR 5  or —CONHSO 2 R 5  where R 5  is not hydrogen, -tetrazol-5-yl, —NR 5 C(═NR6)NR 5 R 6 , —C(O)NR 5 OR 6 , —SO 2 NHCONR 5 R 6  or —SO 2 NHCN;  
       or R 7  is phenyl or naphthyl, optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  or a 5 to 6 membered heteroaryl group having 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected independently from N, O, and S and optionally substituted by R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4 ;  
       or R 7  is C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl or 3-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl as defined above;  
       R 8  and R 9  are independently H, aryl or heteroaryl as defined above, —C 3 -C 7 -cycloalkyl or cycloheteroalkyl as defined above, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, straight chain or branched —C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, —C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6 -alkynyl, each optionally substituted with hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, —C 1 -C 4 -perfluoroalkyl, amino, mono- and di—C 1 -C 6 -alkylamino, carboxylic acid, carboalkoxy and carboaryloxy, nitro, cyano, carboxamido primary, mono- and di—C 1 -C 6 -alkylcarbamoyl;  
       a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof where one may be formed; 
       and an optical isomer or diastereomer thereof where optical isomers and diastereomers exist. 
     
     
       6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of a matrix metalloproteinase or TACE inhibiting compound according to claim  1 . 
     
     
       7. A method of inhibiting pathological changes mediated by matrix metalloproteinases in mammals which comprises administration to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibiting compound according to claim  1 . 
     
     
       8. The method according to claim  6  wherein the condition treated is atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic plaque formation, reduction of coronary thrombosis from atherosclerotic plaque rupture, restenosis, MMP-mediated osteopenias, inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, skin aging, angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, tumor growth, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, corneal ulceration, abnormal wound healing, bone disease, proteinuria, aneurysmal aortic disease, degenerative cartilage loss following traumatic joint injury, demyelating diseases of the nervous system, cirrhosis of the liver, glomerular disease of the kidney, premature rupture of fetal membranes, infammatory bowel disease, or periodontal disease. 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim  7  wherein the condition treated is age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, ocular inflammation, keratoconus, Sjogren's syndrome, myopia, ocular tumors, ocular angiogenesis/neovascularization and corneal graft rejection. 
     
     
       10. A method of inhibiting pathological changes mediated by TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) in mammals which comprises administration to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a TACE inhibiting compound according to claim  1 . 
     
     
       11. The method according to claim  10  wherein the condition treated is rheumatoid arthritis, graft rejection, cachexia, anorexia, inflammation, fever, insulin resistance, septic shock, congestive heart failure, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, inflammatory bowel disease, or HIV infection.